United Nations Radio

After a two-day meeting, the UN General Assembly voted to adopt a non binding resolution calling for Israelis and Palestinians to undertake within three months credible, independent investigations of alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza war last December and January.

Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki

114 Member States voted in favor of the resolution, 18 voted against it, and 44 members abstained. The resolution stems from the report issued by Justice Richard Goldstone on a fact-finding mission following the conflict. Commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council and published on September 15, the report criticizes both sides in the conflict which killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

GA President Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki says the vote is an important declaration against impunity.

"It is a call for justice and accountability. Without justice there can be no progress toward peace. A human being should be treated as a human being regardless of his or her religion, race, or nationality."

The resolution also requests UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send the 575-page report to the Security Council, though some UN Ambassadors have already indicated that the Security Council is not the proper forum to discuss the report.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio

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